Controlling a point of sale device

A first network node device, comprising:

• processing circuitry operably coupled to memory, wherein the first network node device is operationally coupled to a second network node device over a network and operationally coupled to a point of sale (POS) device over a one-to-one connection, with the POS device being operable to receive and perform commands that include a restricted command related to a secured function of the POS device that requires a network node device to be authorized to send that command to the POS device through the first network node device;
• and
• wherein the memory contains instructions executable by the processing circuitry whereby the processing circuitry is configured to:
• send, to the POS device over the one-to-one connection, a first indication that includes the restricted command received from the second network node device responsive to an authorization of the second network node device to send the restricted command to the POS device through the first network node device based on a network node device identifier associated with the second network node device and a set of authorized network node device identifiers that corresponds to those network node devices that are authorized to send the restricted command to the POS device through the first network node device;
• receive, from a third network node device over the network, a fourth indication that includes a command related to the POS device and a network node device identifier associated with the third network node device;
• determine that the command corresponds to the restricted command;
• determine not to authorize the third network node device to send the restricted command to the POS device responsive to determining that the network node device identifier associated with the third network node device does not correspond to any of the set of authorized network node device identifiers;
• and
• determine not to send the restricted command to the POS device.

A system, comprising:

• a first network node device;
• a second network node device operationally coupled to the first network node device over a network;
• a point of sale (POS) device operationally coupled to the first network node device over a one-to-one connection, with the POS device being operable to receive and perform commands that include a restricted command related to a secured function of the POS device that requires a network node device to be authorized to send that command to the POS device through the first network node device;
• and
• wherein the first network node device is operable to:
• send, to the POS device over the one-to-one connection, a first indication that includes the restricted command received from the second network node device responsive to an authorization of the second network node device to send the restricted command to the POS device through the first network node device based on a network node device identifier associated with the second network node device and a set of authorized network node device identifiers that corresponds to those network node devices that are authorized to send the restricted command to the POS device through the first network node device;
• receive, from a third network node device over the network, a fourth indication that includes a command related to the POS device and a network node device identifier associated with the third network node device;
• determine that the command corresponds to the restricted command;
• determine not to authorize the third network node device to send the restricted command to the POS device responsive to determining that the network node device identifier associated with the third network node device does not correspond to any of the set of authorized network node device identifiers;
• and
• determine not to send the restricted command to the POS device.